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egory. Mcßride also is nominated in die song, single and video categories for Any way. A two-time Horizon nominee as an up and-coming performer, Turner’s Male Vo calist of the Year nomination demonstrates how far he has come in a short time, com peting in the category with an all-star line up of George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. Timer's maple syrup-smooth bass voice first gained atten tion with what’s now his signature song, Long Black Train, a hit that recalls Nash ville’s rich traditions in emotionally stirring songwriting. His new album, Everything Is Fine, is out in stores. Here’s what Mcßride and Turner had to say about the CMAs, timeless lyrics and Turner's brush with the industry’s biggest icon: We know that the CMAs are essentially country music’s Oscar niant Whars it like on that day? Mcßride: You’ll go out and do a rehearsal in the afternoon. Then I usually stay there in the dressing room because you get to share it with a lot of the other performers. Many of them are women I haven’t seen in a while, so you sit there and gossip and chitchat while you’re getting your hair and makeup done. Once, I got to share a dress ing room with Loretta Lynn. She’s just a treat to be around. She shared stories about growing up and being in the business. That was a real special moment for me. Turner. I wish I could say I’ve had that moment. I was disappointed my first cou ple of times at the CMAs because all the heroes that I’ve listened to have either passed away, or the radio won’t play them anymore, B and they can’t get a spot on A the show. Wh Why do you think country music’s heart has remained the primary draw for fans through the decades? Turner. Country music began as soul music. It was about rural life and how people were living and work ing and having everyday relationships and broken hearts. It always came from the people. Mcßride: And it was always about drawing people out and having a real conversation. That’s what’s al- MCBRIDE. TURNER PERFORMING: RICK DIAMOND. WIRE IMAGE We asked Mcßride and Turner to discuss their favorite story-telling country songs. Here are their picks: Mcßride: Where've You Been, by Kathy Mattea It -'j about two old married people, and they re in the same hospital but apart for the first time in 6.0 years.; SAMPLE LYJRICS: Now they 're in a hospital ' In separate beds on different floors Claire soon lost her memory Forgot the names of family She never spoke a word ogam Then one day, they wheeled him in . He held her hand and stroked her hair In a fragile voice she said Where ve you been? I've looked for yon forever and a day Where ve you been' Fen jus t not my self when : yrlb re away: If MbW /// Ip mjdmu i*™* JaragfA a *B@g? & nr dwM J H Jr JiSßk ciißp' Turner: I Wish I Could Have Been There, by John Anderson "There are so many people who have experienced a song like this, missing certain moments in their lift- and wishing they hadn’t. 1 SAMPLE LYRICS: Little Bobby hit his first home run He was the hero of the hometown crowd Two to one, it was a winning run everybody was cheering, loud And momrna she was smilin’ saying he s a chip off of the old block But I was on the road somewhere between Memphis and Little Rock It was a happy day but kirida sail I wish I coulrla been there ways brought me to country songs that sound like an actual conversation. Our artists don’t sit from up above and try to tell someone something. They sit right down with you and just talk to you. One of my favorite songs of all time is Help Me Make It Through the Night by Kris Kristofferson. Some of the lines are just brilliant “Take the ribbon from your hair/Shake it loose and let it fa 11... All I’m takin’ is your time.” Those words feel very real. Turner Yeah, it has to feel real, even if the song isn’t literally true. Take The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. You realize it probably didn’t happen. But it’s told so well that it comes across as something that did. Mcßride: It’s like a great novel. Josh, your biggest “story song” so far is Long Black Train. How did you come up with itt Turner. It’s probably the most spiritual experience I’ve ever had writing a song. [The sound of a train near the photo studio can be heard.] Ha! How about that? Seriously, I’ve always been a fan of Hank Wil liams. I’ve been mystified by his life. Then a box set of his came out I couldn’t afford to buy it at the time, so I’d just go over to the library. Late at night I’d be in a cubbyhole there, just listening to his songs. I loved how his guitar would be a little out of tune, and some times he’d mess up on a song, and he’d just start over instead of recording over it I’d walk out of the library with my mind racing with images of a train running in the middle of nowhere, with all of these people just standing, watching it go by and trying to contemplate whether to get on or not I went to my bedroom, shut the door and just started strumming that rhythm and writing the verses. It never occurred to me that it would be a hit I didn’t even have a record contract at the time. We’ve heard that when you sing, you have to present the song like you’re telling its story for the first time, is that difficult? Turner It can be. We have to be like actors some times. We need to get into the shoes of the character within the song and tell that story like we were that person. Sometimes, you don’t want to get up there and be this person again. But that’s when you have to be a professional and express the words of the craft. Sometimes, you try little things to make it different I’ll get to the end of the third verse on Backivoods Boy and try a little vocal trick, like Martina would do. Mcßride: Hah! Timer: [Laughs.] Of course, my vocal tricks are much lower than Martina’s. Continued on next page 7 USA WEEKEND • Nov. 2-4,2007